Reunion brings together old and new

Trekforce got into the festive spirit at the weekend as we held our annual Christmas party and reunion. It was a great turn out, with volunteers’ turning up from as far back as 1988 to the volunteers from 2007. Everyone was there for the same purpose, to celebrate the impact expeditions with Trekforce have on both the project country and the volunteers.



People travelled the length and breadth of the UK to join us in Newcastle for an afternoon presentation which included a talk by Ed Swales, son of founder of Trekforce Wandy, and presentations by volunteers and leaders who showed us photographs and shared anecdotes. There was a great atmosphere as the group reminisced about their gap year experiences and the worthwhile projects they took part in. The presentations ended and turned into christmas celebrations for the evening when there was a chance for everyone to catch up with each other, medics and members of staff at a local bar.



We hope this is just one of many reunions that are going to take place as Trekforce goes form strength to strength with new jungle expeditions to Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Guyana for 2008.

Go to www.trekforceworldwide.com to read about how you can join us on an experience of a lifetime.

First Desert Trek a Success

We have returned from Morocco after our first 2 week extreme expedition. The 10 day trek saw the group clock up over 120 miles by foot, walking across black Hamada desert and challenging Sahara sand dunes, experiencing sand storms and enduring searing temperatures. As with all expeditions with Trekforce there was a back to basics approach as the group landed at a new camp each night where they threw down their carry mats and slept under the stars, washed at wells and ate with local Berber guides who accompanied the group with camels to carry the water and food.



The first 2 week desert trek for a leading expedition company has proven to be a massive success, with the group walking over 120 miles off the normal tourist trail.

The group began in the lower Atlas Mountains in 4x4s to reach their starting destination of Merzouga, before heading South West into the Sahara Desert where scorching temperatures could reach 30oC at midday. The trek ended in the small village of Tazarine, where there was an opportunity for the group to wash at a well and repack for the journey back to Marrakech.

Rob Murray- John, Director of Trekforce Worldwide and expedition leader for the 2 week Extreme Expedition explains: "The aim was to take the trek away from the normal tourist trail, avoiding hostels and well trodden routes so that the trekkers could say that they have completed a trek no other visitor will have done. The desert environment is an unforgiving one, with little water or shelter, we are proud of what we have achieved and look forward to repeating this next year."



The trekkers also got the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local Berber culture during the trek as they had chances to stop at nomad villages for lunch en route where the family would cook for them and give them an insight into living as a nomad family.

Andrew Bedwell who joined Trekforce on the expedition says: ‘I loved the simplicity of the whole expedition. Only relying on bare essentials, being able to throw your sleeping bag down wherever you wanted to and experiencing the local foods cooked in the middle of the desert.'

This was a massive accomplishment for Trekforce - building on our renowned strengths in jungle expeditions with a growing expertise in desert environments and with fantastic feedback from the trekkers we are already accepting applications for the 2008 desert trek which takes place in October. Call 0845 241 3085 for details.